The Maryland county executive elections of 1978 took place on November 7, 1978. Anne Arundel County, Baltimore County, Harford County, Howard County, Montgomery County, and Prince George's County elected county executives.
Anne Arundel County
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
Eliminated in primary
- Daniel J. Bedsole, barber shop owner
Results
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Elmer E. Dunn Sr., accountant
Eliminated in primary
- Charles G. Taylor, administrative hearing officer
- Marvin O. Morris, perennial candidate
- Frederick R. Poole, retired business consultant and perennial candidate
Results
General election
Results
Baltimore County
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
Eliminated in primary
- Lorraine F. Chircus, county school board member
- John C. Coolahan, state senator
- S. Eric DiNenna, county zoning commissioner
- Edward A. Griffith, real estate broker
- John V. Murphy, county councilmember
- Howard J. Needle, state delegate
Results
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Eugene L. Kibbe Jr., county councilmember
Eliminated in primary
- Joan L. Edwards
- Clarence E. Ritter, county councilmember
Results
General election
Results
Harford County
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
Eliminated in primary
- Charles B. Anderson Jr., incumbent county executive
- William Cooper Jr., county councilmember
Results
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
- William B. Davidson Jr., former chair of the Harford County Economic Development Commission
Eliminated in primary
- C. Joseph Bernardo, history professor
Results
General election
Results
Howard County
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
Eliminated in primary
- Edward L. Cochran, incumbent county executive
- William B. Davidson Jr., former justice of the peace
Results
Republican primary
Candidates
- James S. Ansell, lawyer and candidate for Howard County Executive in 1970
Results
General election
Results
Montgomery County
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Richmond M. Keeney, former county councilmember
Eliminated in primary
- Albert Ceccone, real estate and insurance broker
- Gerald C. Warren
Results
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
Eliminated in primary
- Royce Hanson, chair of the Montgomery County Planning Board
- John L. Menke, county councilmember
Results
General election
Results
Prince George's County
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
Eliminated in primary
- John Lee Ball Jr., newspaper ad salesman
- Vincent Goodsell, former director of the Prince George's County Aging Programs
- John Eugene Sellner, real estate sales associate
Results
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
Eliminated in primary
- Martin Aragona, real estate developer
- Dale Everett
Results
General election
Results
References